Picks of the Year: 2011

wswebmaster on December 1, 2018

Of the new releases that came my way this past year there were two that met my criteria of rare but extraordinarily fine repertoire in excellent performances. One was the long-awaited first recording of the late (1926-2011) Lee Hoiby’s deeply …

Leighton Winter Scenes. Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 27. Piano Sonata Op. 64. Five Preludes. Leighton Symphony No. 1, Op. 42. Piano Concerto No. 3, “Concerto Estivo,” Op. 571

wswebmaster on November 27, 2018

LEIGHTON Winter Scenes. Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 27. Piano Sonata, Op. 64.  Five Preludes. ● Margaret Fingerhut (pn) ● CHANDOS CHAN-10601 (70:16) LEIGHTON Symphony No. 1, Op. 42. Piano Concerto No. 3, “Concerto Estivo,” Op. 57 ● Martyn Brabbins, cond; BBC National Orchestra of …

Picks of the Year: 2005

wswebmaster on November 24, 2018

As far as I can recall, this is the first year that I actually had difficulty narrowing down my list of most significant new releases to five. I’m not sure how to explain it, but I am certainly glad that …

BARBER Vanessa

wswebmaster on November 24, 2018

BARBER Vanessa • Leonard Slatkin, cond; Christine Brewer (Vanessa); Susan Graham (Erika); William Burden (Anatol) et al; BBC Singers and SO • CHANDOS CHSA 5032(2) (2 CDs: 122:09) Since it is less than a year since my review of the Naxos recording …

BLOCH Concerto Symphonique. Scherzo Fantasque. Hiver-Printemps

wswebmaster on November 24, 2018

BLOCH Concerto Symphonique. Scherzo Fantasque. Hiver-Printemps • Alexander Tchernushenko, cond; State Academic Cappella of St. Petersburg SO; Halida Dinova (pn) • CHANDOS CHAN-10085 (62:03) This recent release offers what is, to the best of my knowledge, the third recording of Bloch’s piano …

Picks of the Year: 2002

wswebmaster on November 22, 2018

Only four items that came my way this year met my own Want List criteria as neglected masterpieces of the past hundred years in superior performances. Samuel Barber’s choral music constitutes some of his best work. Admirers of the American …

PICKER Thérèse Raquin

wswebmaster on November 22, 2018

PICKER Thérèse Raquin · Graeme Jenkins, cond; Sara Fulgoni (Thérèse Raquin); Richard Bernstein (Laurent); Gordon Gietz (Camille); Dallas Opera O · CHANDOS CHAN-9659(2) (2 CDs; 1:49 &) As much as I enjoy reviewing new operas, I always find it difficult, and typically feel pressed by a …